Argentina

BACKGROUND

Argentina is the eighth largest country in the world by land area. Its territory spans diverse climatic and ecological zones, from the Andes mountains to the Atlantic coast, with subtropical areas in the north and extremely cold regions in the south. As a result, diverse territories and people in Argentina are exposed to different hazards depending upon their location, including floods, storms, tornados, fires, drought, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes.

There are many causes of floods in Argentina, including heavy rains, increased river flows, coastal storms, and rapid snowmelt in the mountains. Flood events cause fatalities, damage to housing and infrastructure, and other health impacts.

Disaster management in Argentina falls under the Directorate of Civil Protection. The country’s National Plan for Disaster Risk Reduction 2018-2023 defines policies and basic principles for public and private sector organizations to reduce the risk of disasters.

INFORM RISK INDEX (2022)    

Hazard and exposure: 2.6  |  Vulnerability: 2.8  |  Lack of coping capacity: 3.5  |  Total: 2.9 (low)  |  Rank: 119

HAZARDS COVERED BY ANTICIPATION    

Flash floods | Riverine floods

EXPERIENCE ON ANTICIPATION 

• Since 2019 the Argentine Red Cross Society has been working to establish FbF systems. The National Society has begun to develop a flood EAP and a feasibility study is currently underway to determine which, if any, other hazards will be addressed.

Read more about projects, resources, activations and working groups below.

Photo by IFRC